Ghana opposition party boycotts parliament in protest

Feb 6, 2007, 18:00 GMT

Accra - Ghana's main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Tuesday announced an indefinite boycott of parliament to protest the jailing of former minister of trade and industry, Daniel Kwasi Abodakpi.

The former minister was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison. The court found Abodakpi guilty of conspiracy and wilfully causing 2.73 billion cedis (295,000 dollars) worth of financial loss to the state.

Abodakpi, who is also MP for Keta, was standing trial with Victor Selormey, former Deputy Finance Minister who died a few months ago.

Party Chairman Kwabena Adjei told a press conference in Accra that the verdict was a miscarriage of justice and said it was part of the ruling New Patriotic Party's policy of using the Fast Track High Courts to destroy the opposition through the use of political trials.

'Following the meeting of the functional executive yesterday (Monday), the party has directed the Parliamentary caucus not to participate in the work of Parliament commencing today (Tuesday) in solidarity with our imprisoned colleague, Hon. Dan Abodakpi for an obvious miscarriage of justice,' Dr Kwabena Adjei, chairman of the NDC, said.

Speaking at a press conference where almost all the 94 NDC MPs were present, the NDC said Abodakpi was the latest victim of judicial manipulation and political witch-hunting designed to decimate the opposition.

Former finance minister Kwame Peprah, Selormey and former agriculture minister Ibrahim Adam are among those who have either served terms in prison or are on trial for causing financial losses.

The money, the transfer of which was authorized by Selormey, was to be used to pay for feasibility studies towards the establishment of the Science and Technology Valley Park Project.

Abodakpi and Selormey were tried on seven counts of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences and wilfully causing losses to the state, charges Abodakpi denied.